Photographer_________

Pach Bros., Cambridge, Massachusetts

Title:

Howard Augustus Taylor with Tennis Racket

Date:

c1880-82

Medium:

Cabinet Card with printed mount

Size of Image:

na

Size of Mount:

6 1/2 x 4 1/4 inches

Condition:

Rich tonal image sharp and clean, light aging, mount shows abrasion at bottom edge with crack at bottom edge, edges/corners lightly rubbed.

Other:

Uncommon early portrait of tennis great Howard Augustus Taylor (1865-1920) holding a tennis racquet and wearing early tennis togs.  This is the earliest image we have found showing Taylor formally posed with a racquet and we estimate that it was produced either just before he entered Harvard or just after.   Before beginning his Harvard program in 1882, Taylor had already participated in the 1879 amateur tour and after entering Harvard he was an NCAA singles and doubles champion in 1883.  He also did well at the U.S. National Championships reaching the Challenge Round in 1884 (then again later at the All-Comers finals in 1886, 1887 and 1888).  He completed the coursework for his AB in 1885 but remained a member of the ’86 graduating class at his request.  Taylor went on to a notably successful career as a New York attorney.

The Pach Brothers, Morris, Gustavus & Gotthelf opened and operated one of the oldest and longest running photographic studios in New York City beginning in 1867 continuing into the mid 1990s.  They also established additional studios before the turn of the century in Hanover, Cambridge, Williamstown, Amherst, Wellesley, New Haven, West Point, Poughkeepsie, Princeton and Easton as well as atong the Jersey shore during summertime.  Much of their work revolved around servicing the academic institutions of each region.  The New York Historical Society holds the archive of their images.